Every year, thousands of people across America die due to traffic accidents caused by distracted driving. Thousands more are injured, and millions of dollars are paid out in property damages and car repairs, all because drivers are choosing to allow distractions to keep them from focusing on the road. It’s a very serious issue that has become almost impossible to escape in our world of constant connectivity.
Have you ever had a moment when driving where you looked away from the road for a moment to tune the radio or pick up your coffee – and when you looked back up, a car had stopped right in front of you. You had to slam on the brakes or swerve to avoid an accident, and it set your heart racing for the rest of the day. If so, you are not alone. This is something that most drivers experience at least once, and it all happens in just a second. If you have ever been involved in an accident due to distracted driving, or are worried about being involved in one, it’s not a good feeling to realize that just a brief glance away from the road can lead to such disastrous results.
That is why we’ve gathered our top tips for avoiding and preventing distracted driving. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe:
What Defines Distracted Driving?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a part of the United States Department of Transportation, defines distracted driving as:
“…any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.” (From www.nhtsa.gov)
In other words, anything that stops you from putting your full attention on the act of driving can be considered distracted driving. Some things are difficult to avoid, such as needing to respond to a child asking a question from the back seat. But other things, such as reading a text message, can wait until you arrive at your destination.
Distracted Driving Statistics That May Shock You
There are many statistics on distracted driving, because it is a far more common activity than you know. In fact, at any given time during daylight hours, it is estimated that over 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones while operating a car. Here are some other statistics that you may not be aware of:
- 25% of all car accidents in the United States are caused by texting while driving.
- Drivers who text while they drive are six times more likely to cause an accident than drivers who drink before driving.
- In the time it takes to answer a quick text message (about five seconds), a car travelling 55 miles per hour travels the length of a football field.
- Between the years of 2013 and 2015, distracted driving casualties rose by over 3,000.
- Teenage drivers with more than two passengers in the car with them are five times more likely to get into a car accident versus a teen with no passengers.
As you can see, distracted driving is one of the most dangerous activities that a driver can engage in on the road. So, how can you keep yourself safer, and protect the lives of others on the road?
Our Top Tips for Preventing Distracted Driving
Here at Freedom National, we consider ourselves a family, and we care about everyone that we serve with our affordable insurance policies. We’ve rounded up our top tips for keeping yourself focused while on the road:
- Make it a rule that you must pull over and put your car into park before you can use your phone. That includes using your phone in hands-free mode. You may be so focused on your conversation that you don’t hear a warning honk from another car, or see a blinker from a car in front of you. Unless you are using a cell phone to have directions read aloud to you, keep your phone off or on silent so that you aren’t tempted to respond to it.
- Keep the number of people in your vehicle to a minimum whenever you can, and be sure that no one is moving around, goofing off, or being extremely loud in the car. This can cause the driver to lose focus on the road.
- For teens, try installing an app on their cell phones that not only blocks texts and calls from all but approved numbers, but also sends periodic GPS updates to a parent and tracks how many miles a teen has driven without any accidents or incidents reported. Not only can this be a great way to ensure that a teen is taking safe driving seriously, but it can also be used to get a discount on certain types of insurance policies.
- Don’t eat or groom yourself while driving. While we all have very busy lives, and often use our time in the car to squeeze in the last-minute things that you need to do while sitting down, that is a surefire way to lose focus on the road. Food spills, for example, are a frequently-reported cause of accidents.
- Take care of all tasks that you need to drive comfortably before you get on the road. This means: adjust your mirrors, find your radio station, turn on your podcast, get your seatbelt comfortable, get your cup where you want it, and make sure that you are familiar with the route ahead and all the controls in the car. Do anything you need to do to drive safely before it’s time to go.
- Have your passengers work for you. You’re doing all the driving, so your passengers are free to do tasks for you. They can look up alternate directions, text someone for you, take a call and let someone know that you are driving and will call them back, grab something you’ve dropped, change the radio station, or anything else you may need done.
- Find something about the act of driving to enjoy. Maybe you enjoy the view, or you like the fact that driving time is quiet time. Maybe this is the only time you get to listen to your favorite music, or maybe you like to drive home a different way every day to get to know a new city better. Whatever you choose, make the act of driving itself interesting so that you are more likely to focus on it, instead of checking out mentally to plan your dinner later.
These tips can help you and those you love stay safer on the road.
Distracted Driving Can Be Avoided, But Get Protection Just in Case
Unfortunately, we can’t control everyone else on the road. While you can do your best to avoid distracted driving yourself so that you stay safe, others may not be doing the same. In fact, statistics would suggest they aren’t doing the same, not by a long shot. Be sure that you have auto insurance that gives you plenty of protection so you can bounce back from the costs of an accident caused by a distracted driver.
Learn more about our affordable auto insurance coverage on FreedomNational.com. We offer insurance for every lifestyle in many major cities and rural areas all over the country. You can get a free quote in just a few minutes online today! Get yours here, or contact us to learn more.
